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cnbc.com
Russian attack cuts power to around 150,000 in Ukraine’s north as Kyiv hits missile, oil facilities
The update comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed strikes on a key missile components facility in the Russian city of Kirov.
theguardian.com
New North Sea oil drilling faces delay after gear accidentally dropped in sea
Exclusive: Blunder at Rosebank, UK’s biggest undeveloped oilfield, comes as government considers granting licenceProduction at Britain’s biggest undeveloped oil and gasfield could be delayed for months after equipment from a rig was accidentally dropped in the North Sea, the Guardian can reveal.Andy Burnham’s new government is under pressure from the fossil fuel industry to allow oil to be retrieved from the Rosebank site despite opposition from climate campaigners and some Labour MPs. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Imax 70 mm screenings become the biggest star for Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’
Moviegoers are traveling, lining up and paying premiums to see Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ in scarce Imax 70 mm screenings.
bbc.co.uk
Money Box
What might the new team at the top of government mean for your money?
theguardian.com
Professional classes stand in way of tax on the super-rich | Phillip Inman
If the prime minister wants to make the system fairer he will need to upset the professional classes with a land value taxThe professional classes act like a Praetorian Guard for the super-rich.Having acquired some of the trappings of being rich, they defend the privileges of wealth – land, property and pensions. They do this as if they – company managers, lawyers, doctors, judges, senior civil servants, architects and chartered this and thats – were the main beneficiaries. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump sued hours after new tariffs take effect, as experts say they may not hold up
President Donald Trump has renewed a flurry of tariffs, including slapping 25% duties on Brazilian imports and vowing 50% tariffs on goods from Canada.
cnbc.com
From Silicon Valley to DC, the tech world is suddenly obsessed with one concept in AI: Distillation
Distillation has long been a topic for AI wonks, but it's become a hot-button issue of late as techies and lawmakers debate how it should be regulated.
theguardian.com
The AI jobs apocalypse probably isn’t coming anytime soon
Artificial intelligence may not deliver on its promise of vast economic opportunity at a price that humanity is willing to payIn March, Anthropic, the cutting-edge artificial intelligence business that gave us the chatbot Claude, published an analysis on the impact of AI on employment, to help us assess the claim that intelligent robots were about to redefine human existence, ending demand for human labor.Last year in May, Anthropic’s co-founder, Dario Amodei, claimed AI could wipe out half of all entry-level jobs in one to five years. Last January, he told us AI would probably become a “general labor substitute for humans”. In June he said we risk “a world where the economic trade-off dial is stuck on the hypergrowth, hyper-inequality setting”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Can Japan avoid a Liz Truss-style shock as its PM embarks on a giant spending spree?
Sanae Takaichi’s blueprint to inject £1.7tn and double economic growth leaves many investors fearfulInternational investors are asking where Japan’s prime minister will find the ¥370tn (£1.7tn) of extra cash that she wants to invest in 17 industrial sectors by 2040.Such is the scale of spending by Sanae Takaichi’s coalition government that many in her own party fear she is about to blow up the Japanese economy, triggering a Liz Truss-style economic shock. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Analysis: A powerful new coalition of AI skeptics is coalescing right in Trump's blind spot
Evangelicals, labor unions and anti-AI-data-center activists are part of a groundswell worrying about how fast technology is changing.
theguardian.com
‘I’m over the moon’: New York’s small business owners rejoice as Mamdani cuts red tape
Initiatives including cutting permits just to serve ice-cream amount to a sweeping program of deregulationRed Scare? The democratic socialist mayor of New York City spent this week talking about red tape.On Tuesday, Zohran Mamdani – the politician at the center of a revived rightwing panic about socialists and purported communists winning elections across America - posted a video on X of himself putting a sheet of paper with the phrase “RED TAPE” into a paper shredder. Other pieces of paper, with phrases like “cumbersome fees and fines” and “a permit you need just to serve ice-cream”, were shredded too. The video, set to Wu Tang Clan’s If Time Is Money, shows Mamdani joining a handful of city officials and small business owners throwing the resulting paper shreds into the air like confetti. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Summer holiday car hire: drive a great deal and avoid hidden fees
Unclear terms and expensive extras can turn what seemed like a cheap rental into a costly oneIt is not too late to get a good deal on your holiday car rental, even if you have booked already and are travelling soon. But there are many pitfalls to avoid so that you do not end up paying over the odds.A survey from Which? found that one in eight people who had hired a car in the past two years had ended up paying more than they were first quoted. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Saudi military strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iran-backed militia attacked Red Sea shipping
Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles from Yemen, Greek security sources told Reuters, as fighting in a second front in the Iran war escalates.
cnbc.com
Nvidia locks down memory supply from SK Hynix as part of $500 billion AI deal
Nvidia is aggressively securing supply of high-bandwidth memory, an essential component for its GPUs and systems.
bbc.co.uk
What does the South make of the King of the North?
BBC South has been hearing from people about new PM Andy Burnham's first week in the top job.
bbc.co.uk
'We feel the pressure juggling holiday logistics'
Parents say childcare costs, unpaid leave and SEND support gaps make summer holidays harder
cnbc.com
Finland’s radical answer to renewable energy’s biggest headache: The world’s largest sand battery
A small Finnish town has turned to the world's largest commercial sand battery to tackle a major hurdle in the energy transition: intermittency.
theguardian.com
UK savings deals: the heat is on as banks offer up to 8%
Don’t delay in taking advantage of the competition that is pushing up interest rates and increasing choice, experts sayIt is shaping up to be a decent summer for savers as fierce competition among providers pushes up interest rates and increases choice.You can currently get instant- and easy-access accounts that pay up to 5% interest, and fixed-rate savings bonds that pay almost that much. Meanwhile, those looking for a regular savings account can now get up to 8%. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
SpaceX launches massive Starship rocket in first test flight since IPO
Elon Musk's rocket maker is conducting the first test fight for its massive Starship rocket since the company's IPO last month.
bbc.co.uk
Students tell us how to keep graduation outfit costs down
Four newly graduated students tell us how they kept the cost of their dresses and suits down.
bbc.co.uk
Long overdue, life-changing or frivolous? Your thoughts on wedding rule changes
The government wants to relax wedding laws so couples can get married almost anywhere.
bbc.co.uk
ADHD has rewired the workplace. This is what it means for bosses and workers
As ADHD diagnoses have risen, have workplaces caught up with the needs of the workforce?
cnbc.com
Moody's says 'unprecedented' AI spending threatens credit quality of Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and others
Moody's said AI spending is forcing even the world's most cash-rich corporations to lean heavily on debt, stock sales and off-balance-sheet moves.
cnbc.com
Musk's bad week: Tesla suffers worst slump since 2022, SpaceX drops ahead of Starship test flight
Tesla shares plunged almost 18% this week after the company missed on earnings and turned cash flow negative.
theguardian.com
Trump administration admits canceling clean energy grants to Democratic states
Court fillings show grants denied to states if they didn’t back Trump’s re-election, but administration claims it’s a ‘misrepresentation’US politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has admitted scrapping more than $7.5bn in federal grants for clean energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed Donald Trump in the 2024 election.US federal officials appeared to acknowledge in court documents last week that they had terminated the funding last October “based solely” on political criteria, targeting projects in states that were represented by Democrats and had voted for Kamala Harris. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump threatens EU with ‘substantial’ tariffs over fines of US tech giants
After Google fined €890m by EU, US president said Brussels was ‘robbing’ American companies and taxpayersWhat to know about Trump’s new tariffs on more than 80 countriesDonald Trump has threatened the European Union with additional and “substantial” tariffs after Brussels imposed a series of steep fines on US tech giants.The US president accused Brussels of taking “direct aim” at several American companies including Apple, Meta Platforms, Amazon and Google, writing in a Truth Social post: “The United States of America is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe, nor will we allow it to be!” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Paramount agrees to pause $110bn Warner Bros merger as case plays out
Twelve states led by California had obtained temporary restraining order blocking merger from closing for 28 daysParamount Skydance has agreed to pause its $110bn acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery until a ruling on several states’ challenge to the deal, or until 1 June 2027, according to court papers filed on Friday.A group of 12 US states headed by California obtained a temporary restraining order this week that blocked the merger from closing for 28 days, pending the outcome of a motion for a preliminary injunction. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Trump vows to investigate EU over fining of US tech companies
The US president says fines against Google, as well as Apple, Meta and Amazon, should be "entirely reversed."
cnbc.com
Trump threatens EU with 'substantial TARIFF' for 'ROBBING' U.S. tech giants
Trump on Truth Social railed against the European Union's new fine on Google and prior penalties against U.S. tech giants Apple, Meta and Amazon.
cnbc.com
Oil falls on report Pakistan is pushing for new U.S.-Iran talks with China's backing
Oil prices dropped by around 3% on Friday, but remained on track for a weekly jump of 10% as the U.S.-Iran war continued to escalate.
cnbc.com
Oil shipments are under attack on multiple fronts as fighting escalates in Red Sea, Hormuz and Black Sea
More than 60 commercial ships have been attacked in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman since March 1.
theguardian.com
‘It’s not fair’: cafe owners frustrated over exclusion from business rates cut
Business owners in England say prioritising venues selling alcohol leaves vital community spaces behind Ferdinand Geus is proud of the positive, global impact his small speciality coffee business is having.“Around 3,000 small, family-owned farms in Yemen rely on us – we’ve persuaded many to stop growing khat, the drug, and start growing coffee instead,” said the business manager of Sheba Coffee, which supplies Yemeni coffee beans to independent cafes across the world, including the UK. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Water bosses’ pay rises despite bonus ban and public fury over bills and pollution
Exclusive: Eight companies expect to be covered by the ban for 2025-26, the Guardian can revealWater company bosses’ total pay rose over the past year despite a government bonus ban and public outrage over pollution and bills, the Guardian can reveal.One chief executive, Mark Thurston of Anglian Water, received £1.9m – including a £500,000 “retention payment”, despite the bonus ban. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Andy Burnham’s first week: polished politics allow an upbeat start | Editorial
With a flurry of cost-of-living measures and a day in Number 10 North, the new prime minister has hit the right early notesAppropriately enough, Andy Burnham ended a week of political signalling and first impressions back in Manchester on Friday. At the offices of the new No 10 North – where the prime minister hopes to work at least one day a week – regional mayors sat alongside ministers in an example of Burnhamism at work. It was an early statement of intent, ahead of what Mr Burnham bills as “the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen”.The same could be said of the series of cost of living measures fired out during the new government’s first few days in office. A £2 cap on bus fares, a cut in VAT on electricity, and some business rates relief for pubs, clubs and smaller music venues were all modest moves. But they were cleverly indicative ones, nodding empathetically to people’s need to have the chance to enjoy themselves as well as pay the bills.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Scoff at cheaper bus fares and No 10 North if you like, but Andy Burnham knows what he’s doing | Jonathan Freedland
Retail politics while taking power out of London: if this works, Burnham’s premiership could be seriously transformationalOne of Andy Burnham’s first policy moves brought back a sharp memory. On Wednesday, he announced that single bus fares across England would be capped at £2, starting from January. It was part of a series of small, practical measures designed, said the new prime minister, to offer a little “breathing space” to a hard-pressed public, but this was the one that registered with me most. That’s because it echoed the first time I ever experienced a specific public policy that I realised affected me directly.It was in the autumn of 1981 when the newly elected Greater London Council, led by Labour’s Ken Livingstone, slashed bus fares in the city. The headline-grabber was a new, short-hop fare of only 10p. I was 14 years old at the time, so for me it was even better: all child tickets were reduced to 5p. They called the scheme Fares Fair. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Netflix has to evolve’: can the upstart survive the end of the binge-watch era?
Streaming pioneer that transformed TV faces slowing growth and battle for viewers’ attention from YouTubeWhen Netflix offered viewers the chance to binge on an entire season of House of Cards it revolutionised the TV industry and started on a path to becoming the world’s most popular streaming service.Almost 15 years on, however, the upstart’s strategy of pumping its service with an avalanche of content and an almost-as-rapid penchant for mercilessly cancelling shows has viewers reaching for the remote. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Pentagon lowers official Iran war death toll, omitting four killed this month
The Pentagon lowered its official Iran war death toll to 14 from 18, removing four service members killed this month.
theguardian.com
Burnham urged to lobby EU leaders directly to waive EES border controls
Lib Dems call on PM to push for suspension of ‘bungled, malfunctioning’ system as overseas holiday travel peaksAndy Burnham has been urged to lobby EU leaders directly to suspend the new entry-exit system, EES, as the peak weekend for overseas holidays begins.About 2.2 million British holidaymakers are expected to head abroad between Friday and Monday, the majority to Europe, with all schools in the UK now on their summer break. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham opens No 10 North in Manchester – video
The prime minister opened a new government base in Manchester, called No 10 North, intended to signal a shift away from what he said had been decades of economic decision-making centred in London. Heron House is temporarily accommodating No 10 North while a brownfield site just outside the city is being developed where it is expected to relocate permanentlyUK politics live – latest updates Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump imposes 'sweeping' new tariffs on 60 trade partners as global duties expire
The Trump administration has ramped its tariff actions back up since the president's trade agenda suffered major legal setbacks earlier this year.
cnbc.com
Intel rides AI boom to fastest revenue growth in almost 15 years, but shares sink
Intel's revenue jumped 25%, the most robust growth for any period since the third quarter of 2011.
bbc.co.uk
Faisal Islam: The UK's Trump trade deal no longer looks world-beating
While the US tariffs imposed on the UK are effectively unchanged, other countries now have a better deal.
bbc.co.uk
We split money equally even when one of us earned a lot more
Hannah and Max continued to pool finances after Max was made redundant but took "drastic measures" to cut spending.
cnbc.com
How a Chinese AI model stopped OpenAI’s ‘unprecedented’ cyber attack
The origin of the model Hugging Face used to combat the rogue AI is turning heads.
theguardian.com
Burnham urged to award £2.4bn military satellite contract to Airbus over US rival
Unite union leader says giving Skynet 6 WSS contract to Lockheed Martin would be a ‘massive mistake’One of the Labour party’s biggest union backers has called for Andy Burnham to award a £2.4bn military satellite contract to the European manufacturer Airbus rather than a US rival, Lockheed Martin, amid concerns that as many as 600 jobs may be at risk.Sharon Graham, the general secretary of the Unite union, said it would be a “massive mistake” to go for a US company over Airbus, which is headquartered in France but designs and builds satellites in Stevenage in Hertfordshire and Portsmouth in Hampshire. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
US hits dozens of countries with new wave of tariffs
Imposed citing forced labour concerns, the levies replace a temporary global duty brought in after the US Supreme Court struck down tariffs in February.
theguardian.com
When is an apology not an apology? When it comes from an AI boss with an out-of-control chatbot | Marina Hyde
An incident in which an autonomous OpenAI agent hacked a startup either confirms that the end is nigh – or that the product is just amazingly sophisticatedThroughout history, many things have been seen by terrified populaces as a harbinger of doom. A comet. A crow on the battlefield. A solar eclipse. A mutant livestock birth. Yet times move on. In the modern era, the leading harbinger of doom is literally any picture of the OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, attached to a news story. You know it’s not going to be good, right? You know that by the time you’ve read it, you’ll be begging to go back to the time when the worst thing that could happen to us at the hands of the techlords was just some democracy-subversion, or childhood destruction, usually followed by Mark Zuckerberg putting on a suit and claiming: “We will learn from this.”Anyway: a lot of pictures of Sam Altman in the news of late. Most recently, this week, one darkened the skies alongside the tale of how an OpenAI autonomous agent went rogue during a supposedly sandboxed/guardrailed test, and hacked a major startup that functions as a repository of coding information. (I’m slightly obsessed with the fact that the startup in question is called Hugging Face, adding weight to my suspicion that some vast, tweely benign emoji is the last face humanity will see before it dies.)Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnistMarina Hyde’s new book, What a Time to be Alive!, is out in September (Guardian Faber Publishing, £20). To support the Guardian, order your signed copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
New figures show costs rising for pensioners
They face 4.7% inflation - driven by steep rises in fuel and household service costs, report finds.
cnbc.com
Trump's new global tariff draws rebukes from trade partners over forced labor justification
U.S. trading partners have rejected the forced labor rationale behind Trump's new global tariffs, while most signaled plans to keep negotiating.
theguardian.com
New York Chinatown fears impact of $8bn casino development, calling it ‘predatory project’
Residents warn project could worsen gambling addiction and raise rents, while developers promise jobsOn Main Street in Flushing’s Chinatown, shoppers weave between fruit stands, restaurants and family-run businesses that have served the New York City neighborhood for decades. But behind the bustle, many residents fear the working-class immigrant community is under threat from an $8bn casino development that could displace thousands of renters and force small businesses to close.“A predatory project is being dumped in our community that disproportionately harms our people,” said Jack Hu, 35, a Flushing resident and member of the No Casino in Flushing Meadows Corona Park campaign. “This community is really upset about this project and how it was pushed through without our consent.” Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Why are UK fuel prices rising again?
UK petrol and diesel prices are going up again as the price of oil returns to around $100 a barrel.
theguardian.com
Mass job cuts loom at VW as profits fall steeply on China sales slump
Carmaker expects to sell 3% fewer vehicles this year as it pushes through a programme that could eliminate 100,000 rolesVolkswagen has reported a steep fall in profits and cut its revenue forecast amid a sales slump in China, as the German carmaker pushes through a brutal cost-cutting programme that includes axeing up to 100,000 jobs.VW said it expects sales revenue to fall by up to 3% this year, a reversal of a previous forecast for a 3% increase on last year’s €321.9bn (£275.3bn), because of a sales slump in the highly competitive Chinese market. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Watch: Another day, more Trump tariffs - but are they working?
The BBC's Samira Hussain explains how President Trump's tariffs affect US economy, who pays the price, and whether they're working.
theguardian.com
‘The captain told me to wear a nappy on board’ – why is air travel so humiliating for disabled passengers?
From being abused by staff and other travellers to being denied access to toilets, flying is an increasingly distressing and frustrating experience for many wheelchair users. Here, they share their storiesWhen Hannah Babalola boarded KLM flight 598 on 26 May, she was tired. A Paralympic athlete, she had been competing at an event in South Africa’s Cape Town, and was hoping there would be no hold ups on her journey back home to Chicago.Babalola, 37, is well-travelled. A former wheelchair racer, she now competes in marathons and has flown to dozens of countries over the years without big problems. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
So many British people have it better than they think – it’s up to Burnham to make them see that | Polly Toynbee
A new survey suggests voters are becoming more cynical and pessimistic. A few goodwill gestures from No 10 won’t change all that – but it’s a startWho are we, the people Andy Burnham now governs? He inherits a miserable lot: grudging, angry pessimists, expecting the worst of all politicians, trusting no one to lead the country well, according to a long-running study. British folk feel the social contract is broken, they feel let down. Ignorant of basic facts, they are wilfully misled by malevolents.Over half a century of taking their pulse, Ipsos has collected data on shifting attitudes for the mighty Understanding Society, the largest longitudinal household study in the world, run by the Institute for Social and Economic Research. By chance, this latest national portrait will be the benchmark for Burnham’s era. Here are his people: can he make them feel better? In the end, that’s the great purpose of all politics: you can have good policies, make improvements, do your honest best, as Keir Starmer tried, but if you don’t make the people feel it, then it’s a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal, as Paul told the Corinthians. Can Burnham lift up their hearts, a bit?Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Record heat sends online retail sales to five-year high in Great Britain
Soaring temperatures fuel demand for air conditioners and outdoor goods, helping retailers beat expectations in JuneBusiness live – latest updatesOnline sales reached their highest share of retail spending in five years last month as record heat fuelled demand for air conditioners, outdoor products and clothing.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of retail sales in Great Britain rose 1% month on month in June, beating analysts’ expectations of a 0.3% decline, helped by hot weather and World Cup spending. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
UK mortgage rates rise to highest level for a month
Renewed tensions in the Middle East feed through to the costs faced by lenders, pushing up borrowing costs.
bbc.co.uk
Scotch whisky levy lifted as Trump imposes new wave of US tariffs
The Scottish government welcomed the lifting of the 10% levy, which the US President agreed after the state visit of King Charles.
theguardian.com
Trump gifts Saudi Arabia a nuclear win | Politics Weekly America
Donald Trump has announced a landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia while pressing ahead with efforts to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. What’s driving Trump’s new agreement with Riyadh? And how is it likely to be received at home and across the Gulf?Jonathan Freedland speaks to Robert Jimison, who covers Congress for the New York Times with a focus on defence and foreign policy, about what the agreement contains, why it matters and the political challenges it could face Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Tech titan ordered to pay ex-wife $644m in divorce settlement
The divorce, involving the chairman of one of South Korea's biggest companies, has gripped the nation.
theguardian.com
‘It’s become a nepo baby sport’: how secondhand fashion got so expensive
Thanks to gen Z resellers and platforms like Depop, thrifting has lost its subcultural roots - and ballooned into a $350bn businessVintage boutique owner Janelle Best has been rummaging in thrift shop bins since the 90s. When she started, she says, there was a stigma about it. “It was either you were a freak, or you were poor – and I was a freak.”At first, she did it to source stage outfits while playing in psych-rock bands. Then, in 2005, she started “casually reselling” on eBay. Ten years later she was trading as Desert Stars Vintage at street markets, and by 2023 she had opened a showroom specializing in upmarket silk dresses in her Williamsburg apartment. Even just a few years ago, she says, she still put in the hours at places like Goodwill. The bins, she says, “were a field day. There were so many fucking bangers.” And then, thrifting became a social media craze, she says, “and the hell gates of high school students flooded in. Twelve people to each bin. Everyone fighting. Suddenly everyone’s a reseller, and instead of these kids intuitively knowing what’s good, they’re on their phones trying to figure out if it’s valuable.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Volkswagen CFO addresses plant closures, job losses as profits sink
German auto giant Volkswagen on Friday reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter profit and revised down its sales forecast for 2026.
cnbc.com
South Korea's president invokes dramatic Japan realty crash to push domestic property agenda
Lee was highlighting the country's excessive investment in real estate, and highlighted that Japan's housing market "burst like a balloon."
cnbc.com
U.S. to see higher generic drug prices thanks to tariffs, CEO of leading India pharma firm warns
CEO of Indian pharma company Dr Reddy's has warned that Trump's proposed tariffs on generic drugs will make them more expensive for patients.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Nations reject Trump's 'arbitrary' tariffs
There is an international backlash to President Trump's latest push to keep his tariff agenda alive, with his fresh move against American trading partners.
theguardian.com
One year, 17 towns, dozens of voices: what we heard along the coast of England and Wales
Reporting from some of the poorest seaside towns revealed how young people have been left isolated – but remain resilient and full of hopeIf you were asked to summon up images of the coastline of England and Wales, you might think of sunny days, buckets, spades and carefree holidays. But for many young people growing up by the sea, decades of evidence tell a very different story. For them, rather than a picture-perfect horizon full of hope, the sea has become a boundary that swallows up opportunity.With a 73% decline in funding for youth services in England over the past 12 years, and a lack of opportunities that has led to nearly 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds not in work, education or training (Neet), the situation for young people, especially in places of deprivation, has never seemed more desperate. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Homes with grand designs for sale in England and Scotland – in pictures
From an intricate bronze-like townhouse in Manchester to a sculptural property in the Essex countryside Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
How much money do you give for a wedding gift?
You've been invited by the happy couple, but they've asked for cash - not presents. North Londoners tell us what they would do.
theguardian.com
‘Burnham bounce’ and World Cup lift mood in July, says data firm
‘Wave of optimism’ is sparked by prospect of new PM, England football team’s progress and hot weatherConsumer confidence in the UK jumped this month by its biggest margin for nearly three years as the prospect of Andy Burnham becoming prime minister became almost certain.The data company GfK said a “Burnham bounce” along with a strong run by the men’s England football team at the World Cup and sunny weather had lifted the mood of consumers in its long-running monthly survey. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S., other nations back open-source AI with 'strong security' at China summit
The APEC statement is the first to include open-source cooperation at a minister level, said Li Lecheng, China's industry and information technology minister.
cnbc.com
Japan core inflation rate in June creeps up from 4-year low as higher oil prices bite
This is the first rise in core inflation since March, and was in line with the1.6% growth expected by economists polled by Reuters.
cnbc.com
China's largest memory chipmaker sparks fears of a cash drain as it readies for public debut
CXMT is stoking fears that its blockbuster stock market debut could pull cash from China's equities.
theguardian.com
What to know about Trump’s new tariffs on more than 80 countries
Tariffs ranging from 10%-12.5%, taking effect on Friday, are US president’s latest effort to circumvent CongressJust before a temporary levy on global imports was set to expire, the Trump administration issued a fresh wave of tariffs on more than 80 countries late on Thursday, ranging from 10% to 12.5%. The new tariffs take effect on Friday morning.It’s Donald Trump’s latest effort to continue imposing global levies without congressional approval, despite the supreme court ruling in February that found the US president had illegally used his executive power to implement his global trade policies. Trump has long maintained that the US has been paying more than its fair share in tariffs, and that increased duties are necessary to boost American manufacturing and jobs. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Qantas tests new ultra long-range Airbus in 17,000km direct flight from France to Melbourne
Airbus o50?1000ULR becomes most watched plane on flight tracking websites as Qantas tests new aircraft for its Project Sunrise Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQantas?s new ultra long-distance aircraft has landed on Australian soil for the first time on Friday after a 19-hour test flight from France.The Airbus o50-1000ULR, designed for Qantas to complete some of the longest commercial flights in the world, set off on a nonstop journey from Airbus? manufacturing facility Toulouse, France on Thursday, destined for Melbourne. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
China's Moonshot AI stole from Anthropic, Trump tech adviser says
The allegations come as Chinese AI companies are facing increased US government scrutiny.
bbc.co.uk
UK complacent about war threat, warns BAE boss
The threat of attack has never been higher, the boss of Europe's biggest defence contractor has warned. Dr Charles Woodburn
bbc.co.uk
Tourist tax introduced in Edinburgh: How much is it and who pays?
The Scottish capital has become the first city in the country to introduce a charge for overnight stays.
theguardian.com
It’s not just a No 10 in the north, it’s an engine for growth throughout the whole UK | Andy Burnham
Power has been too centralised in Britain and tackling that is key to progress and prosperity. This initiative is ambitious: we’re remaking the stateAndy Burnham is prime minister of the United KingdomOn Monday, while the cameras were fixed on that famous black door in Downing Street, something important was happening 165 miles away. A small team of officials and advisers were walking into an office building in Manchester to set about the remaking of the British state.This was the beginning of No 10 North: the first major act of this government and what I hope will be seen as its most defining.Andy Burnham is the prime minister of the United KingdomDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Lawmakers push for AI 'kill switch' after OpenAI models go rogue
A new bill would let the US government order the shutdown of AI models that pose a public threat.
bbc.co.uk
Google and Tesla shares plunge as AI spending rattles markets
As major tech companies race to capitalize on a new wave of AI technology, investors wonder when financial benefits will appear.
bbc.co.uk
Business Daily
What tech earnings reveal about AI investment and Donald Trump's tariff talks
bbc.co.uk
Burnham says 20% business rates cut for English pubs 'a first step'
Some hospitality firms will get a discount from next April but hotels and restaurants won't get a cut.
theguardian.com
Gary Lineker calls for Burnham to introduce wealth tax - The Latest
Millionaires including former footballer Gary Lineker are asking Andy Burnham to tax their wealth more. More than 100 wealthy Brits have signed an open letter to the prime minister, saying: ‘We want you to tax us. We can afford it.’ So should the government introduce a wealth tax? And why is the idea getting more popular? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to columnist and senior economics commentator Aditya Chakrabortty Continue reading...
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Gary Lineker among millionaires asking Andy Burnham to tax them more
A group including the former England footballer write to the new PM telling him "we can afford it".
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Oil prices hit $100 for the first time since May
The price of Brent crude rose more than 6% on Thursday as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate.
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Pubs cheer business rates relief while other firms 'left out in the cold'
Pubs welcomed the support package, while other High Street firms asked why they were left out.
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UK households free to install plug-in balcony solar panels from end of August
Law change means renters and flat owners may be able to cut bills as energy costs soar amid Iran warBritish households will be able to buy plug-in solar panels later this summer after the government changed the law so the UK’s biggest retailers could bring them to market for the first time.People across the country will be able to join the millions across Europe generating their own electricity using “balcony solar panels” from 27 August, according to legislation passed last week. Continue reading...
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Trump says U.S. will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks after oil tankers targeted in Red Sea
Yemen's Houthis said they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers with drones and missiles for allegedly violating its maritime blockade.
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Airport drop-off fees up by a third - here are the priciest
The cost of parking closest to the terminal has hit £10 at two of the UK's airports.
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What about cuts for cafes and hotels?
The new PM has announced at 20% business rate cut for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England,
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What we know about 20% cut to some business rates
Pubs, clubs and live music venues in England will get a 20% cut in business rates from April.
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'Project Firepower': Inside Rheinmetall's gunpowder expansion as Europe races to replenish its ammunition
Scarcity of gunpowder is seen as a choke point for ramping up production of ammunition for militaries, and a barrier for Europe to ensure defense sovereignty
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Firm hacked by rogue OpenAI models says it is 'a wake-up call'
A co-founder of start-up Hugging Face told the BBC that most firms are not aware that the "game has changed".
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Big bosses reveal the secret to getting hired
Business leaders share their best career advice and the qualities they look for when recruiting new staff.
theguardian.com
‘People are scared their neighbours will call the police on them’: how the hosepipe ban got caught up in the culture wars
While many people in the UK recognise the need to preserve water, others are furious and planning to flout the ban in their area. The target of their anger? Failing water companies and frighteningly thirsty datacentres‘Plants are like your babies,” says Harry. And accordingly, he argues, most people would do anything to keep them alive, including break the law. This is what he plans to do this week – defying a hosepipe ban in place across large parts of England, to ensure his shrubs maintain a steady pulse.He may not be alone. On Tuesday, Thames Water became the latest company to ban hosepipes – a restriction that will affect more than 10 million people. Since mid-July, Welsh Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water (serving Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey), Southern Water and Cambridge Water have all announced hosepipe bans. And earlier this week, South East Water extended its existing ban to cover an additional 1.5 million. Continue reading...
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These Japanese AI winners don’t make chips. They make toilets, glass fiber and seasoning
A toilet maker, a glass fiber manufacturer and the maker of MSG have in Japan have become major beneficiaries of the AI boom.
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What does the BBC do for you? – podcast
Media critic Mark Lawson discusses with Nosheen Iqbal why even the BBC director general has lost faith in the current licence fee model, and explore what options the national broadcaster has to secure fundingOn Sunday night, the BBC rebooted an advert based on one it first aired 40 years ago. In the new version the presenter Romesh Ranganathan pretends he is a disgruntled licence fee payer, asking the question: “What has the BBC ever done for me?” Some of the national broadcaster’s biggest stars then make the case for its existence and ask for the public to keep funding it.The ad has aired not long after the BBC’s new director general, Matt Brittin, said the organisation was in “real jeopardy” due to a faster-than-predicted decline in licence fee payments. But what is the alternative to the old model? Continue reading...
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Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters
Why is it taking so long for the government to regulate them, and what are the consequences of delay?
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Sony’s 'ironic' PlayStation disc decision upends gamer conventions and threatens a $7 billion resale market
In 2013, Sony tweaked Xbox by showing how easy it was to share a PlayStation disc. Now, gamers say Sony has become exactly what it mocked.
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Some food prices have fallen – but inflation expected to rise from here
June's fall in inflation will be welcomed by the new prime minister but analysts warn the fall is temporary.
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‘If all else fails, sue’: how ultra-processed food firms are using the courts to obstruct health rules
Exclusive: Global investigation reveals 235 lawsuits have been brought against governments in five countries since 2010The world’s biggest ultra-processed food companies have filed scores of lawsuits challenging government policies that tackle junk diets, the Guardian can reveal.Ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body and poses a seismic threat to global health. Worldwide consumption is rising and UPF now makes up as much as half the average diet in many countries, including the UK, the US and Australia. Continue reading...
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‘Risking blackouts’? How Great Britain’s grid operator was dragged into a political row
Neso denies allegations aired by Tory MP that staff took part in cover-up over decision-making in heatwaveIn a control room in Wokingham, Berkshire, staff work around the clock, minute by minute, to align Great Britain’s fluctuating power supplies with its ever-changing demand.However, as households struggle to adapt to soaring summer temperatures, staff at the government-owned National Energy System Operator (Neso), tasked with keeping the lights on, have faced the kind of challenge usually reserved for the country’s coldest winter nights in recent weeks. Continue reading...
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Our streets are full of oversized cars | Brief letters
Carspreading | An interregnum | Served by Thames Water | Manchesterism | Gransplaining | Cold in YorkshireRe “carspreading” (Opinion, 12 July), my wife and I live in a neighbourhood of houses built just before the second world war, and have watched in horror as models of our favoured cars have increased in size. Having chosen to keep our Mini Cooper and VW Polo – both of 2016 vintage – I believe we are the only people in the locality who store both cars in the garage overnight.John PyeSouthampton• A “period between reigns” (Quick crossword, 13 July) is an interregnum, not a regency as your solution has it. A regency occurs when a monarch is deemed incapable of carrying out his/her duties and they are taken over by a regent.Peter WrigleyBirstall, West Yorkshire Continue reading...
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What will Andy Burnham’s VAT cut on electricity bills mean for you?
New prime minister is implementing immediate tax cut to help ease cost of living pressures for British householdsAndy Burnham to cut VAT on electricity bills as first cost of living moveHousehold electricity bills for people in Great Britain will not attract VAT for six months, under the first of a series of cost of living measures announced by the new prime minister, Andy Burnham. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
The 20-somethings betting big on tech stocks
The BBC hears from people about the risks and rewards of investing in technology shares.
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This farmer wanted to quit the cocaine industry - he couldn't
Colombians who grow cocaine's raw material bemoan a lack of support to help them switch crops.
bbc.co.uk
Is tracking your food purchases good for your health?
Food tracking apps are popular, but are they a good way to make us eat a healthier diet?
bbc.co.uk
New era for Gibraltar with removal of 118-year-old border controls with Spain
It is hoped that free movement between the UK territory and Spain will provide an economic boost.
bbc.co.uk
Wealthy AI workers send San Francisco house prices soaring
The median cost of a home in the city is now $1.7m, a record high, according to the latest figures.
bbc.co.uk
Robots available for rent: But what can they do?
Robotics tech is changing fast, so for many it makes sense to rent a robot.
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AI is 'not smart' so what's next in artificial intelligence?
Leading AI researcher Yan LeCun has a start-up which is developing a more flexible AI system.
bbc.co.uk
Why is crucial tech vulnerable to the heat?
Energy grids and train services are among the vital services that are vulnerable to very hot weather.
bbc.co.uk
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
bbc.co.uk
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, although more could become apparent in the coming days.
bbc.co.uk
How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
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The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam
bbc.co.uk
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
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